There are millions of unknown heroes and Buddhist monks, who sacrificed their lives for Kampuchea Krom.

It is not our intention to exclude them. No available profiles and pictures. We invite you to visit us frequently as you could as pictorial profiles of heroes, heroines and Buddhist monks become available, they would be posted for your views.

In memories of

1. Her Majesty The Queen Soama, who is the first [female] leader of Khmer people. (The visiting Chinese ambassador Zhou Daguan to the Khmer Empire [or Nokor Phnom] in circa 1296 many centuries later sinized her name to Liv Yi).

2. His Majesty The Emperor Jayavarman VII, a devout Buddhist, Emperor of the Khmer Empire and Builder of Angkor Thom, circa 1150 to 1181? Additional informations, click here for full text.

3. Heroic Oknha Khleang Moeung, Khmer national hero, a 15th century legendary army commander, who sacrificed his life to defend Cambodia against the Siamese soldiers in 1482 (presently Thai).

4. Heroic Oknha Son Kuy, Khmer national hero, Governor of Preah Trapeang province, Kampuchea Krom, brave warrior, dies to save the Khmer Nation and Theravada Buddhism from annihilating by exchanging his life with his enemy in B.E.2365 A.D.1821. VN ruler executed him by beheading him. He serves the country bravely at age 20.

The Words of Oknha Son Kuy in B.E.2365 A.D.1821 before His Final Breath on this Earth
Oknha Son Kuy makes his final statement toward the Khmer Buddhist monks and citizens, which all Khmers must remember them in our hearts, “I am moved very much to have seeing [our] compatriots and Buddhist monks before I depart this life. I beg for your forgiveness from [our] compatriots and their Venerable Buddhist monks for I do not possess sufficient ability to serve our Motherland any more.

Therefore I must end my life so that our [Khmer] Nation lives on without a bit of remorse. Now our custom, tradition, culture and Khmer Buddhism have returned after the demand. Therefore, may Your Venerable Buddhist Monks and all compatriots preserve, defend, protect and guard them religiously from perishing. May Your Venerable Buddhist Monks and compatriots remember and understand clearly that our Khmer race used to be superior and widely known throughout the world. Therefore we must be firm and united always, do not believe the enemy’s tricks, do not sell yourself to any enemies so that they can kill your own nation and compatriots for personal interest. In the end, I believe clearly that I, as an individual, die, but…there will be millions of future Khmer children and compatriots, who are highly patriotic and bravely willing to sacrifice, die, defend, protect, guard and preserve the national sovereignty, liberty, Buddhism and Khmer race so they can live on.”

Approximately 42 years after the death of Oknha Son Kuy, colonial France, one of the superpower nations from Europe, colonizes and turns the Kingdom of Cambodia into French Protectorate. Part of Kampuchea Krom today is renamed to French Cochinchine or French Cochin China by the French colonialists. When colonial French arrive on the shores of Kampuchea [Krom] then, the Khmers and Vietnamese are still fighting.

5. Heroic Oknha Krola Hoam Kong
Former Buddhist monk, nationalist, anti-colonial French administration that colonizes Cambodia for about one century.

9. Heroic Buddhist Monk Ganda Dhammo Kim Toc Chon
The Most Venerable Ganda Dhammo Kim Toc Chon, Preah Trapeang Provincial Buddhist Chief of Mohanikay Buddhist Association, Kampuchea Krom; died for the Khmer Nation and Buddhism; arrested, imprisoned and executed by lethal injection by VN government in B.E.2529 A.D.1985 for his activism in the fields of human rights and religion.

10. Heroic Buddhist Monk Dhamma Viriyo Kim Sang
The Most Venerable Dhamma Viriyo Kim Sang, Patriarch of Theravada Buddhism of Kampuchea Krom; died for the Khmer Nation and Buddhism, imprisoned by the Vietnamese government in the communist re-education center called Camp T82; murdered while in detention in B.E.2526 A.D.1982.

Ahead of his passing, the doctor and numerous students bestow near his recline begging the Samdech to lessen his working hours to no avail.

Samdech Chuon Nath states, “ [Our] Self…unforeseen, but we have to work hard to be productive, be minded that, we get to live a thousand years.”

Samdech Chuon Nath had passed away on the 14th day of lunar month, Phaktrobot, year of the Rooster Ekasak, Buddhist year 2513 at hour 20, minute 20 in his great residence within the compounds of Wat Ounalom (capital city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia) due to old age and hard works in regard to Khmer language, Theravada Buddhism, etc.

Heroic Ven. Hem Cheav is a nationalist. He died for the Nation and Religion. Colonial French administration arrested, forced Him to defrock and imprisoned Ven. Hem Cheav. He died while in prison on Koh Tralach Island in the middle of South China Sea. Ven. Hem Cheav ceaselessly remained a Buddhist monk even in the colonial French administration’s prison. Ven. Hem Cheav fasted or had meal once a day like a Buddhist monk. He uphold or observed the 8 Sila (Dharma). The Cambodian government grant Ven. Preah Balat Ghosaneak Hem Cheav a state funeral 30 years after he lost his life in one of the most desolate places on earth, Koh Tralach Island. Ven. Hem Cheav was just an ordinary Buddhist monk living in one of the ruthless colonialist regimes in the world, colonial French. Colonial French colonized Cambodia [and Kampuchea Krom].

14. His Holiness Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda, Supreme Buddhist Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism, Human Rights and Democratic Activist, May 23, 1913 – March 12, 2007 in Takeo province, Cambodia (Then the country is a French protectorate). He is also known as “The Gandhi of Cambodia.” Age 94.

His Pali monastic name, Maha Ghosananda, means “great joyful proclaimer”. Samdech Maha Ghosananda received his Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Theology from the Nalanda University, in Bihar State, Republic of India in 1957.

Samdech organized and led non-violent and peaceful march throughout Cambodia 16 times to spread peace, non-violent, human rights and democracy in the post eras of the Khmer Rouge, Vietnamese occupation, the lead up to and the post-1993 UNTAC-organized national elections. The first historic election in the country.

Samdech Maha Ghosananda was a 4-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

15. Her Majesty The Empress Indradevi, a devout Buddhist, wife of Emperor Jayavarman VII. She lived in the 12th century in what is now Siem Reap province, Kingdom of Cambodia. She was a famous writer and leader of a nation.

140. Ven. Eang Sok Thoeun, approximately age 33, Abbot, Human and Religious Rights Activist, born in Kampuchea Krom. Assassinated on February 27, 2007 in his residence at Tronom Jring Buddhist Temple, Ang Snuol district, Kandal province, Kingdom of Cambodia returned from participating a non-violent demonstration in front of the Embassy of Vietnam to Cambodia demanding the Vietnamese authorities to cease their human and religious rights violations at home in Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) upon the Khmer Buddhist monks and Khmer Kampuchea Krom people. He died just for expressing his fundamental rights, the right to assemble, the right to free speech, and the right to practice religion.

142. Ven. Sovannapanno Thach Suon passed away in United States and cremated in his hometown Preah Trapeang province, Kampuchea Krom.

143. Ven. Thach Tuor passed away in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

This is a partial list documented by the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community, a non-governmental organization.

There are millions of unknown heroes and Buddhist monks, who sacrificed their lives for Cambodia, especially Kampuchea Krom.

It is not our intention to exclude them. No available profiles and pictures. We invite you to visit us frequently as you could as pictorial profiles of heroes, heroines and Buddhist monks become available, they would be posted for your views.

We invite you to submit the names and brief backgrounds of Khmer heroes and Buddhist monks that are not on this page by contacting us, KKC, at kkcpressoffice@yahoo.com.